Russia Pushes Back Ukrainian Troops in Some Areas of Kursk, Commander Says 

In this photo made from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, a Russian tank takes up firing positions at an undisclosed location in the Russian/Ukrainian border area, in ​​the Kursk region, Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP)
In this photo made from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, a Russian tank takes up firing positions at an undisclosed location in the Russian/Ukrainian border area, in ​​the Kursk region, Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP)
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Russia Pushes Back Ukrainian Troops in Some Areas of Kursk, Commander Says 

In this photo made from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, a Russian tank takes up firing positions at an undisclosed location in the Russian/Ukrainian border area, in ​​the Kursk region, Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP)
In this photo made from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, a Russian tank takes up firing positions at an undisclosed location in the Russian/Ukrainian border area, in ​​the Kursk region, Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP)

Russian forces have begun a significant counter-offensive against Ukrainian troops who smashed their way into western Russia last month, and have taken some territory back, pro-Moscow war bloggers and a senior Russian commander said.

Ukraine on Aug. 6 launched the biggest foreign attack on Russia since World War Two, bursting through the border into the region of Kursk with thousands of troops supported by swarms of drones and heavy weaponry, including Western-made arms.

Major General Apti Alaudinov, who commands Chechnya's Akhmat special forces who are fighting in Kursk, said that Russian forces had taken back control over about 10 settlements in Kursk, TASS reported.

"The situation is good for us," said Alaudinov, who is also deputy head of the Russian defense ministry's military-political department, adding that Russian forces had gone on the offensive.

"A total of about 10 settlements in the Kursk region have been liberated," he said.

Reuters was unable to verify the battlefield reports due to reporting restrictions on both sides of the war. Russian defense ministry reports about the fighting gave little information. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week that his forces controlled 100 settlements in Kursk region over an area of more than 1,300 sq km (500 sq miles).

Yuri Podolyaka, a Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, and two other influential bloggers - Rybar and the Two Majors - said that Russian forces had begun a significant counter-offensive in Kursk.

"In the Kursk region, the Russian Army launched counter-offensive actions on the western flank of the enemy's wedge, reducing the Ukrainian zone of control near the state border," the Two Majors blog said.

Podolyaka said that Russian forces had taken several villages on the west of the sliver of Russia that Ukraine carved out, pushing Ukrainian forces to the east of the Malaya Loknya River south of Snagost.



IRGC Commander Says Iran Purchased Russian-made Sukhoi 35 Fighter Jets

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35S jet fighter performs a flight during the Aviadarts competition, as part of the International Army Games 2021, at the Dubrovichi range outside Ryazan, Russia August 27, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
A Russian Sukhoi Su-35S jet fighter performs a flight during the Aviadarts competition, as part of the International Army Games 2021, at the Dubrovichi range outside Ryazan, Russia August 27, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
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IRGC Commander Says Iran Purchased Russian-made Sukhoi 35 Fighter Jets

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35S jet fighter performs a flight during the Aviadarts competition, as part of the International Army Games 2021, at the Dubrovichi range outside Ryazan, Russia August 27, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
A Russian Sukhoi Su-35S jet fighter performs a flight during the Aviadarts competition, as part of the International Army Games 2021, at the Dubrovichi range outside Ryazan, Russia August 27, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

Iran has purchased Russian-made Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said on Monday, amid Western concerns about Tehran and Moscow's growing military cooperation.

According to Reuters, this is the first time an Iranian official has confirmed the purchase of Su-35 jets. However, Ali Shadmani, who was quoted by the Student News Network, did not clarify how many jets were purchased and whether they had already been delivered to Iran.

"Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land, and naval forces. The production of military equipment has also accelerated," the deputy Coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia Central Headquarters said.

In November, Iran's Tasnim news agency said Tehran had finalized arrangements to buy Russian fighter jets.

Earlier this month, Iran and Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership which did not mention arms transfers but said the two will develop their "military-technical cooperation."

Iran's air force has only a few dozen strike aircraft, including Russian jets as well as ageing US models acquired before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.